Carter hopes to become personable Clearlake councilwoman

CLEARLAKE -- Business owner Bunnie Carter said she hoped to inspire change within Clearlake by being an honest and personable councilwoman.

"My heart is in the community. I believe it could change to a beautiful place if the right people are on the council," Carter, 62, said.

The co-owner of Tatonka Trading and Tatonka Land Miniature Golf on Lakeshore Drive is a longtime Clearlake resident. She vies for one of three council seats up for grabs in the November election.

Carter opposes placing a shopping center on the airport property and instead advocates for a manufacturing plant, suggesting either the hemp or bottling industries.

"I want jobs for the community, full-time jobs with benefits ... It would be better for our community instead of part-time jobs in retail," she said.

The city should begin taxing medical marijuana dispensaries and look toward licensing marijuana growers, according to Carter.

"They need to start paying taxes on the money that they are making, and hopefully the crime won't be as bad because people aren't stealing the plants out of gardens and turning around and selling them for cash to the pot stores. The pot stores (would) have to buy from the licensed growers," she said.

Carter said her primary concern would be addressing issues with Clear Lake.

"The lake needs to be cleaned. There won't be any businesses if we don't do something about the lake. That's my priority," Carter added.

Enhancing the downtown business corridor would be another focus for her.

"I would love to see Lakeshore Drive (improved). They've been promising this for a long time and I just want to see it fulfilled," she said.

Carter also pushes for the city to bring in more recreational centers such as a skating rink or drive-in movie theater, "so people have something else to do besides the lake."

Carter lives in the city with her husband, Robert Coker.

Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.